Goldstein & Cundy tear into Roofe over ‘Disgusting’ challenge in Rangers loss
TalkSPORT host Jason Cundy has called for UEFA to throw the book at Kemar Roofe after the Rangers forward was sent off for a “disgusting” challenge against Slavia Prague.
Steven Gerrard’s men were knocked out of the Europa League in a 2-0 defeat to the Czech champions at Ibrox but Roofe’s challenge on goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar has left a sour taste in those who watched the round of 16 second-leg fixture.
Kolar had to be taken off after Roofe planted his studs into the Slavia goalkeeper’s face and the referee had no hesitation in sending off the Gers forward.
Former Chelsea player Cundy wants to see Roofe severely punished for his challenge, suggesting the ex-Leeds man is a coward.
As shown in a clip on talkSPORT’s Twitter account, Cundy said: “He should be banned for six games, it’s an appalling challenge. Maybe eight.
“They need to throw the book at him, they need to ban him for a long time because it’s a disgusting, appalling challenge.
“The keeper couldn’t play on. [Roofe] knows what he’s doing, he’s followed through with his studs in his head. I would ban him for eight or 10 games.
“Whatever they throw at him, there can be no complaints.
“Go for 10 and they’ll appeal it for eight because it’s a disgusting, awful challenge and it’s a coward’s challenge as well.
“He knows the goalkeeper’s got to go with his hands. He knows he’s got to lead with his foot, he follows through, catches him in the head.”
Fellow talkSPORT host Andy Goldstein also tore into Roofe, claiming that the Englishman’s challenge on Kolar was worse than the infamous Harald Schumacher challenge on Patrick Battison at the 1982 World Cup.
“It’s disgusting,” said Goldstein.
He added: “I’ve seen a few challenges in football I call horrific – like you have to turn away. The one that jumps off the page for me is Harald Schumacher on Battiston.
“This one I’ve seen from Kemar Roofe, I think is worse than that.
“It’s despicable. It’s absolutely disgusting. Why’s his foot that high up?
“You’ve just shown a picture of the goalkeeper’s face. He’s got a gash on his forehead – half of his forehead is open.”
Roofe must face up to punishment
Roofe faces at least a three-match ban for that violent challenge on Kolar, which will only apply to UEFA competitions.
It was such an idiotic thing to do. Did the Rangers man really think he could stick his boot that high up without causing serious danger to the Slavia goalkeeper?
We see players getting pulled up for high boots all the time and this is why it happens. It’s so, so dangerous and Kolar is lucky he only suffered a gashed forehead.
Goldstein compared the incident to the Schumacher-Battiston one but based on how Battison was knocked unconscious and slipped into a coma, comparisons between the two are a bit out of line.
Roofe has since suffered racist abuse on Instagram after his sending off against Slavia Prague and while he does deserve punishment, a witch hunt against him is only going to build up the hatred that’s been shown towards him.
In other Rangers news, Roofe has shared racist messages sent to him after the game.